A year in Florence was not what I had expected from my life, yet it had passed by my eyes like a morning breeze. In the year while my mother and sibling stayed in England, my father and brother had successfully fixed themselves in between the Italian families and all the peace Florence could muster.

Arthur's engagement was a quicker one than mine. He wanted to wed Novella Foscari as soon as possible. The way her eyes lit up on her wedding day hurt my heart as she was such a kind girl who made a beautiful bride. Arthur was quite the professional player, able to mimic the look of love she so desired from him and he made her believe. She deserved better than a putrid man like my brother, but if I were to say anything it would ruin everything my father and brother had built, it would leave me possibly without a home. I could not imagine if my father would throw me from the warmth of our England home, or if my mother would allow that to happen but the thought of betraying my family hurt me. I could not go against them as Francesco has against his Uncle, slowly withdrawing himself from Jacopo's influences.

I had assumed that Jacopo would not approve of our union, but Francesco barely spoke a word about him days approaching our wedding. If he were to be nervous, I was not sure if I could even tell, as my own nerves shattered any possibility of me telling.

"You look beautiful," I hear from behind me as my dress is being put on. I could tell it was Bianca's voice, her excitement was showing.

"Thank you," I say, glancing down at the pale blue dress. It was much too beautiful for me. It felt like the perfect dress for a fraud, something I so desperately wished to be rid of. Instead I was the most beautiful fraud in all of Florence.

I turn when the dress is set on my shoulders and I feel I have the courage to face the women who were nothing but kind to me when I came here. Such kindness has only ever been treated with deception though they will never know, at least from my lips.

"I knew when I saw you and Francesco during my wedding. He could not keep his eyes off of you," Bianca mentions, sitting down next to her mother.

While it was nice to have Lucrezia here, it only reminded me that my own mother could not be here. I had to reveal what Arthur and father had done in a letter as soon as I was free enough to truly express to her how I felt. The one solace was that neither father or Arthur look at our letters to each other. My mother was happy for me, which mother would not if their daughter was to be married. We both could not help but feel a little melancholy, as she could not dare to come to Florence. If she were to come, she would have to bring my siblings and only He knows what my siblings would say to any of the Florentines. We would be preventing disaster, so I could only tell my mother through letters of how the wedding was. As if Lucrezia could tell what I was thinking from the look in my eyes, she gives me a sympathetic look.

"Even Lorenzo could tell," Clarice then speaks up, a giggle escaping along with the others. One of the relieving things was that I no longer had to throw myself at the man, or pretend I was overwhelmed with the lust and feelings I could not hide for him. I could be friends with these women and not have to worry that I am ruining ones life or I am trying to become the mistress to another's husband.

"A true love match," Bianca comments.

A part of me wanted to be giddy upon hearing that. Most women dream of the man they marry to be one that loved them. I just could not tell with the man I was to marry. This was arranged by his brother and my father and brother before either of us could realize what was happening. I could not expect him to be thrilled by this, but I could hope.

A knock sounds off and I turn to see my father peer through the crack and then step in. "My dear, you look magnificent. Your mother would be so pleased with today." He approaches me, holding his hands around my arms with a gentle grip that made me want to be gleeful. I wished to be a careless bride with my whole heart. "It is time."

All the women get up, each giving me a nod and walking out the door my father came in from. I knew Arthur cared little about this event and was probably off with his bride who I had hoped would have been here with the rest of us instead of with him.

"Anna, are you feeling well? You are looking pale." He puts a hand to my cheeks, attempting to see how I looked. "Is this truly what you want?"

I hesitate, only for the mere fact that I did not expect him to ask me a question like that. I assumed he would be ready to hand me off to any Florentine man that offered a chance for him to gain advantage against the Medici and the banks. But to ask me if this is what I wanted. Was he doubting himself? Even if he wasn't, he and Arthur somehow allowed me freedom in their control.

I nod my head, seeing the grin widen on his face. "Of course it is, father. Now, let us go, before I am late."

When I was younger, I never thought about the man I would marry. I pictured a grand, fantastic wedding. I pictured my family beside me and preparing myself in a gown that made every other woman envious. I never pictured looking into a certain pair of eyes no matter the boy that would try and charm me and my family. So when I stood by a priest and joined hands with Francesco, I found myself locking into him. He never strayed his sight from me from when I walked down to him to there in that spot as our hands joined together.

The priest began speaking, his words were only drowned out. I stared up at Francesco, with his warm complexion and I was short of breath. His usually intense gaze was softer than any other man's gaze. It made me feel like the only person that could ever truly see me as I want to be seen was him. No other person in the room was there, they did not matter. My father and brother's schemes were just pretend, the past war with the Medici was play, and all that mattered was this moment.

The words that announced me as Francesco de Pazzi's wife took me out of the daydream I had embarrassingly put myself in. I turned from the priest and up at Francesco once more, trying not to look as if I was waiting for proof of belonging to each other. It was not owed to me in anyway. I glance to the side, seeing the people in the room clap, my father's applause wilder than any others and Guglielmo with a look of pride for his brother. I take a deep breath, and then feel a hand on my cheek, slightly grazing my jaw and neck. The hand that cusped my cheek brought me from the madness of the crowd and towards Francesco once again. 

He did not need to say anything to me to know that this moment was between the two of us. From his tall stature, I could see that he started to lean down just enough for me to close the gap between us and feel my lips be captured in his. The feeling of his lips made my chest feel light, as if my feet were to be lifted off the ground. They were soft, a delicate touch upon my lips. When he broke away from me, taking away his hand, it was like a part had grown missing from me. I open my eyes to Francesco. He was my husband now. The sentence surprised me, not only because it was true but because I was happy to know it. I never thought I could feel such a happiness from knowing that this man was to be my partner. 

In the next room, everyone gathered around giving us congratulations and speaking to us about the future. Many people whom I did not know came up to us. Francesco kept it curt and accepted the gracious words from those he must have known. 

I see my father walk up to us and he opens his arms wide. "My child, your mother would be so proud." He embraces me, his tight hug barely letting me breath. I was his second child, so I was not surprised he would be this way about letting me go. I would no longer live with my father and brother, but with Francesco. He lets go and then turns to Francesco. "I wish you and my daughter all the happiness in the world." I was not sure if he really meant what he said. This marriage was so that our family could stay in good graces all the while taking advantage of the banks, but the way my father spoke to Francesco made me believe that a part of him wanted it to be true.

"I will take care of her, I promise." 

"Sister!" I resist the urge to grimace at Arthur who sauntered over with Novella next to him. He envelops me in an embrace, this one feeling more threatening than anything in my life. "Congratulations." 

I stand back, feeling a reassuring hand on my back as I could feel myself almost fall back into Francesco. "Thank you, Alessandro," I say using his fake name. It was strange to use it as I had not used it so many times. I could feel his real name wanting to escape from my tongue but I had to stop myself. His serpent like eyes made me think of the reality of my situation. My father and brother were ready to use me at any point.

With the evening growing cold, Francesco and I were left to ourselves as everyone went to their homes and I was ready to be with him alone. I step into the room, expecting to feel a cold air that made me feel lonely but it was warm and inviting. He was inviting, more than I would have expected. The dark wood of the room trapped me in.  

"Anna," his deep voice broke the silence. I turn around, feeling his hand take mine. He looked down at our hands, something in his eyes made it seem like he thought I would disappear from his grasp. 

"I will not go away, you do not have to stare at me so." I chuckle but the sound fades as he meets my gaze. 

"I never thought I would be with you like this. There have been times where you have slipped away quite easily. Forgive me for wanting to stay like this for just a moment." 

I could not help but smile, squeezing my hand against his, wanting to feel even closer. "I am not going anywhere. We are married now." 

He steps a bit closer and instead of backing away, I stayed right there. I had no reason to stray from him anymore. The expectations could go to the wind now that I knew he was mine. I was his in His eyes. 

"Did you truly wish to marry me?" 

I was perplexed by his question. "What makes you think I did not?" 

He sighs, bringing a hand up to my hair, stroking it slowly. "You could have married a Medici. You could have possibly had Lorenzo like you had wished. I am sure your father and brother did not wish for you to marry a Pazzi." 

He had it wrong. I know I made him think I had feelings for Lorenzo but he could not be more wrong, but I could not just change my mind and tell him that I never felt anything for him. I could not just keep going against the truth and the lies I have made or else I will never be able to say anything. 

"When I first came to Florence," I pause leaning into his touch, "when I first came I did not know what was to become of me. I had so many expectations set upon me and yet I am here now. I am here because I want to be here, with you. I want this. And I am overjoyed to know that you do too." 

I glance up at him through my eyelashes, watching him stare at me intently. Then he rushes in, lips attached to mine. I found myself pulling him towards me, wanting more. We fell onto the bed, deep into each other, removing clothing and parts of each other and exposing one another to our flaws and passion. He had made me feel like I was genuine, like I was real in this world. 

Things had finally come into place. I thought time would continue to be on my side. I was wrong. 

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A/N: Hey guys! So this is part one I wanted to show Anna and Francesco's wedding and what happened in the year before the time skip in the show. So not only did Anna and Francesco wed, but so did Arthur and Novella and we'll see more with everybody in the future chapters. I tried not to rush this chapter too much but hopefully ya'll liked it.

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